McNeese's Blouin settling in at a new position

It’s August camp, which can only mean that things are slightly chaotic for Leon Blouin.

Last year, it was a new school for the Dutchtown native, who transferred to McNeese State from Tulane before the season began.

This year, it is a new position. Blouin was moved from quarterback to safety this summer, and has spent the past two weeks trying
to get up to speed with life on the other side of the ball.

“This is an interesting August camp, I ain’t going to lie,” Blouin said. “It’s a little different playing on defense.”

In Blouin’s opinion, different is good.

“There’s a lot more attitude on the field. At quarterback you have to learn to conserve all your emotions and everything,”
he said. “On defense, you can go out there and act on those feelings. I can’t wait to play. I think it’s a great decision
by Coach V.”

With Will Briscoe returning from injury this season, Blouin’s place on the quarterback depth chart was poised to slip down
below the third spot, which is why he was receptive to playing defense.

“My whole thing was, I’m going to play. I don’t
like being on the sideline. I like being in the action,” Blouin said.
“If
I want to help this team win, I have to do something. So any way
he needs me to help this team win, that’s my whole thing.”

Defensive coordinator Lance Guidry thinks that it helps to have Blouin’s offensive perspective in the secondary.

“He’s a smart kid. He was a quarterback. So he’s
picked up on things rather quickly,” Guidry said. “Through the course of
the year he’ll get better and better to where he’ll become a
natural. I was a quarterback in high school like him, and sometimes
it takes a while to learn how to become a defensive back, but you
learn how to read offenses quicker.”

The Cowboys have tried Blouin at free safety and weak safety. When he’s been able to get on the field, that is.

Blouin sat out last week after reaggravating a pulled hamstring.

“It’s probably been the most frustrating injuries I’ve ever had,” Blouin said. “Every time I want to go back, I can’t. Every
time I do go back, I re-hurt it. It’s just something I have to wait out.”

Blouin was cleared to return to the practice field Monday.

“When you’re hurt, it’s a learning curve for him, because he’s already kind of behind the 8-ball,” Guidry said. “We just have
to get him back, bring him back slow, and as healthy as he is we’ll get him going.”